2ND LEAD (Correction)

Popular economics teacher Varathan, relative reported missing in Colombo

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 May 2008, 09:34 GMT]
S.S.Varatharajan, popularly known as Varathan in the private tuition sector for teaching economics subject was abducted Sunday morning in Fort police area by a group of unidentified persons while he was going from a tuition centre in Wellawatte to another in Kotahena. Later, one of his relatives Muthukumar Sritharan, 49, was also abducted by persons who came to Varathan's residence in Police uniform, according to complaints lodged with the Wellawatte police.

Mr. Varathan was abducted Sunday morning.

Later, around 1:00 p.m., a group of persons in police uniform who introduced themselves as policemen from Wellawatte Police, went to his residence located along 37th Lane in Wellawatte, and asked his wife and another relative, Muthukumar Sritharan, to come out to meet Varathan. Varathan's wife and his relative followed them. But, they were forcibly bundled into a van which was parked outside.

The abductors dropped Varathan's wife at Nugegoda. She was given 100 rupees by abductors. Thereafter the van left with Muthukumar Sritharan.

Varathan's wife Sunday evening made a complaint with the Wellawatte police regarding the "arrest" of her husband and Mr. Sritharan. Wellawatte police has denied involvement in the arrests.